“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16, ESV
We are not merely to be doormats, but, knowing we have the power of God in us, we are ready to answer anyone who challenges or questions us about the Gospel.
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
Psalm 103:13, ESV
We must realize we have rebelled against God and deserve His wrath, turning from sin and having His Holy Spirit change our thinking. Then we will find the immeasurable love and compassion of our Father in heaven.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7, ESV
God wants to give us good things. Whenever we ask according to His will, we will receive. Sometimes He still gives, even when we don’t ask or don’t ask correctly.
He especially will give us when we ask for His glory, usually to share the Gospel.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21, ESV
We think we have complete control over our lives, but natural and man-made disasters, illnesses, and accidents remind us that we have very little control.
Knowing God is in control helps to calm us and be the calming help of someone going through one of those emergencies, for His glory
I did NOT preach again, but my friend and fellow elder Bill did preach.
It was pretty cool.
You should be able to watch below.
Mark 15:16-32, ESV
And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Peter 3:9, ESV
We have seen that God keeps His promises. While we yearn for others to come to Christ, we can rest in the knowledge that He waited long enough for us to know Him.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!